Possible Downtown Sign Changes Delayed

Fagan believes downtown looks fine as it is: "They want to solve something but there is no problem right now."

And the Special Business District agrees. But it worries about future signs and displays.

"Under the current ordinance, people could do some things that would be terribly unappealing and we'd rather be proactive in dealing with that now, rather than being accused of not paying attention later," said John Ott, Special Business District member.

In the new proposal, future signs will have to be smaller. But some second floor signs would have to go. If current signs don't comply under the proposal, business owners won't have to make a change until the current sign is damaged or the business changes ownership.

"It'll affect how we design it but it won't prohibit us from anything we wanted to do in the first place," said Channing Kennedy, manager at Maude Vintage.

Dozens of businesses were represented during Monday's public hearing. Most spoke out against the new ordinance. The city council tabled the issue until February 19th.